Title: User involvement to enhance expertise in system development

Authors: Richard Discenza, Debbie Tesch, Gary Klein, James J. Jiang

Addresses: College of Business and Administration, University of Colorado, P.O. Box 7150, Colorado Springs, CO, 80933-7150, USA. ' Williams College of Business, Xavier University, 3800 Victory Parkway, Cincinnati, OH, 45207, USA. ' College of Business and Administration, University of Colorado, P.O. Box 7150, Colorado Springs, CO, 80933-7150, USA. ' College of Business, 4000 Central Florida Blvd, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL, 32816, USA

Abstract: This paper considers the mediating effects of user participation activities that interact with crucial skills to explain the varying degrees of software success. Questionnaires were mailed to randomly selected Information System Special Interest Group (ISSIG) members of the Project Management Institute (PMI) in the USA. A total of 171 questionnaires were returned. The overall results of the analysis show that user hands-on activities lower the risks of certain skill deficiencies during the duration of the project to improve the successful implementation of software projects, while user partnering serves as a mediator between application expertise, general expertise, and software success.

Keywords: software success; user participation; project partnering; users; project management; project risk; user involvement; information systems; skill deficiencies; software projects; expertise enhancement; system development.

DOI: 10.1504/IJIEM.2008.020107

International Journal of Internet and Enterprise Management, 2008 Vol.5 No.4, pp.373 - 389

Published online: 26 Aug 2008 *

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